Hatching Season!

On July 5th, we had out first emergences: SB03 and NB04!

Straggler from SB03 (at very low tide)

The same day, Sea Island also reported their first two emergences.  These four nests were the first for Georgia.  Since then, several more nests have hatched.  The incubation times are all over the place, and some of our earliest nests have yet to show signs of hatching, including the first leatherback nest laid on April 19th.  


As I was doing my normal survey this morning, I approached 50-day old NB11 to remove the small screen.  I noticed a circular area of distubred sand that I assumed was from a ghost crab, or raccoon since there were tracks around.  I clipped the cable ties and removed the screen.  To my surprise, there were little heads at the surface.  The nest was ready to emerge last night but the hatchlings were blocked by the screen.  I ushered out the seven guys on top since they started moving around, and softly piled sand on top of the rest.  Since it was daylight, I didn't want a full on frenzy.  

Hatchlings first moments outside the nest

Once properly oriented, they were off!

It was low tide so I helped them out by carrying them part of the distance.  I promise those critics out there that I allowed them plenty of time to crawl down the beach. 

Soon the seven were swimming away from the beach and it was time continue survey.  After working a nest and a few false crawls, I had to do my first nest inventory of the season.  

Steve had only recorded one track out of this nest, so I wasn't sure what I was in for.  The roots of the grass surrounding the nest can pose problems to the eggs, which is what I suspected was the reason for the low observed emergence.  I slowly dug into the nest cavity with a gloved hand.  Just as I felt two hatchlings, motor memory began to kick in from last year.  I put sand in the bucket, and then the hatchlings.  I continued to dig up the contents of the nest, finding more and more trapped hatchlings.  Between the growth of fine roots and the compaction of sand, the hatchlings hadn't been able to move.  By the time i reached the bottom, 21 strong turtles were ready to run down the beach.

Nest contents (including a bucket full of hatchlings)

Tracks remaining in the wet sand

After two months of hard work, Steve and I are once again reminded of our purpose out here.  Every hatchling counts toward the recovery of sea turtles, and we're glad to be a direct part of the effort.